Others

Complimentary Arrival Transfer Dili - Alola Foundation visit Hatu Bulico - village walking tour Dili - Motael Church visit Dili - Chega! Exhibition Hatu Bulico - Mt Ramelau sunrise hike Maubisse - Guided town tour Maubisse - Coffee Plantation & Farmlands tour Aileu - Projeto Montanha visit Maubisse - Traditional ceremony and sunrise walk Atauro Island - Snorkelling tour Atauro Island - Social enterprise tuk tuk tour Atauro Island - Fisherman’s Boat snorkeling tour Dili - Cristo Rei Statue & Beach Atauro - local market Dili - dinner on beach Dili - Tais Market Dili - Guided city tour Dili - Santa Cruz Cemetery Complimentary Airport Departure Transfer

Transport

An airport arrival and departure transfer is included in your trip. Public transport including buses, ’microlets’ and trucks are not well maintained and high risk. Many taxis are in poor condition. If traveling in Timor-Leste before or after your trip, arrange transport through your accommodation. Avoid using taxis, especially if you’re a woman due to increased risk of crime. Road conditions in Timor-Leste are poor and driving can take a long time even over short distances due to potholes, pedestrians and animals on the road, single-lane mountain roads, police checkpoints and roadblocks. On this trip we will be using 4x4 jeeps as the road conditions in most part of the country is challenging and requires a powerful vehicle. Most probably we will be using Land Cruiser Troopy, ideal for roads in Timor Leste but can be bit challenging to enter/exit the vehicle at times due to its design. Private vehicle , Boat

Meals

8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Accommodation

We stay in basic guest house accommodation with fans, squat toilets and mandy bucket showers. Travelling to rural Timor-Leste is remote tourism infrastructure is limited. We work closely with all guesthouse owners to ensure the quality of accommodation is maintained to ensure a safe and hygienic stay. We only use rural guesthouses with good reputations, safe and secure locations, and the best amenities available. Home stay Atauro Island: You will stay in homestays with your host families nearby to each other group members and close to the beach. Please note that on Atauro Island there is a regular power cut from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am but the evenings are pleasant with a nice breeze. The homestay does not have towels so you may wish to bring your own. Guesthouse (7 nights), Homestay (2 nights)

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights are not included

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Day 1 Day 1: Dili
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Dili

Welcome to Timor-Leste, Asia’s newest country. Your adventure begins in the bustling capital city of Dili. Surrounded by both hills and ocean, there’s plenty to see and do here. A welcome meeting will take place at 6pm today where you’ll meet your local leader and the fellow travellers joining you on your journey. After the meeting, you will be treated to a welcome dinner at a rooftop bar with breathtaking views of Dili city and the Wetar Strait. Enjoy your first taste of local cuisine as you get to know your new travel companions.
Day 2 Day 2: Aileu - Hatu Bulico
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Aileu - Hatu Bulico

In the morning, pay a visit to Alola Foundation, a not-for-profit working to improve the lives of women and children. You’ll learn about their local projects, including handcraft employment opportunities for women artisans that promote Timorese cultural identity. Visit the Chega Exhibition, set in an old Portuguese-era prison, to gain insight into the harsh realities of the Indonesian military’s incarceration of Timorese resistance individuals. Visit Motael Church, a significant historical site followed by lunch at a delicious Restaurant. Now, it’s time to head into the heart of Timor-Leste and travel up the Tatamailau mountain range. On the drive you’ll have the chance to take in some seriously spectacular scenery and admire the country’s mountainous landscapes. This restaurant and guesthouse serve as an education and training facility, aiming to improve the quality of life of local people by promoting health, culture, income generation, environmental sustainability and emotional and spiritual development. Arrive in Hato Builico in the afternoon (it’s the highest village in the country!), settle into the guesthouse and meet your local trekking guide for tomorrow’s hike. Take a guided walking tour of the village where you may have the chance to kick around a football or chat with people from the local community.
Day 3 Day 3: Mt Ramelau - Maubisse
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Mt Ramelau - Maubisse

Embark on an early morning adventure to the summit of Timor-Leste’s highest mountain, Mt. Ramelau, standing at 2,986m above sea level. Wake up at 2:30am for a 5-hour round trip hike to catch the awe-inspiring sunrise from the summit at 6am. If it’s a clear day, you’ll be able soak in unbelievable views of the whole coastline. Afterwards, head to Maubisse, a historic hill town surrounded by stunning scenery and explore the town with your local leader. Check into your accommodation and enjoy the beautiful mountainside views.
Day 4 Day 4: Maubisse - Dili
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Maubisse - Dili

Today wake up early for a dawn cultural ceremony by village elders of Mt Rabelau mountain, this ceremony of song and dance is to call upon the ancestors and spirits to welcome you to the land. After being welcomed to the land, you’ll take a short walk up to the top of the sacred Mt Rabelau mountain. After breakfast, take an in-depth look into Timor-Leste’s important coffee farming practices. Start by visiting local coffee farmers and learn about how coffee is grown and processed in the country. Take a guided walk through the farmlands and coffee plantations to gain a deeper understanding of the farming practices. Lunch will be traditional Timorese meals, at one of the coffee farmers homes. Make a stop at Projeto Montanha for coffee. Return to Dili in the late afternoon.
Day 5 Day 5: Atauro Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Atauro Island

In the morning, you’ll embark on an exciting adventure by boat to Atauro Island, known for its biodiverse coral reefs and rich wildlife, including whales and dolphins. Your first stop is a snorkelling tour of the tropical coral reefs, where you can admire the colourful marine life and coral formations up close. In the afternoon, you’ll settle into your homestay on the island, where you’ll be staying with a local family. Your accommodation is just a five-minute walk from the beach and offers basic but clean and comfortable rooms, complete with fans and mosquito nets. During your stay, you’ll be treated to delicious home-cooked meals and local snacks, and have the opportunity to learn about life on the island and immerse yourself in the local culture. Spend your time relaxing by the beach, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, and chatting with your hosts. This is the perfect opportunity to experience Timorese hospitality and see how the locals live.
Day 6 Day 6: Atauro Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Atauro Island

Wake up to the beautiful sunrise over the Wetar Strait and start your day with a delicious breakfast by the sea. Today, you’ll embark on a fisherman’s boat snorkelling tour of the pristine coral reefs in Beloi’s Marine Protected Area. Then, take a guided tuk-tuk tour of the village, here you’ll visit local handicraft stores and marketplaces. You’ll have the chance to visit Biojoia de Ataúro, a co-operative group of local hearing-impaired women, who produce and sell a range of beautiful jewellery pieces made from local materials such as coconut shells, seeds, and wood. You’ll also visit Boneca de Ataúro, a women’s co-operative that produces high-quality handmade embroidery and textile products, from dolls and educational products to trendy handbags and homeware items. After a busy day, you can relax and unwind by the beach, play football with the local community, and spend time getting to know your homestay family.
Day 7 Day 7: Dili
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Dili

In the morning, visit the local seafood and vegetable market and visit Empreza Diak, a social enterprise selling locally made handicrafts. Enjoy lunch with your homestay family. In the afternoon, make your way back to Dili by boat. This afternoon make your way to the iconic statue of Christ at Cape Fatucama, standing 27 metres tall atop a world globe. Climb the 14 "Stations of the Cross" to reach the base of the statue and enjoy incredible views of Dili, Atauro Island and Back Beach. Dinner will be served on the beach with sunset views looking back over Dili city.
Day 8 Day 8: Dili
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Dili

Today is all about getting to know Dili. You’ll be accompanied by local guides who will show you the hidden gems of the city and introduce you to its people and culture. Head to the Tais market to learn about this traditional textile, often used to make traditional clothing and garments for special occasions like weddings, ceremonies and festivals. For lunch, dine on traditional Timorese food at a social enterprise that mentor’s youth to shape the future of food and agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region, and collaborates with farmers and producers, chefs and experts in the fields of science, agriculture, humanities, community development and design. Visit the Santa Cruz Cemetery, an important commemoration site for the Timorese people, due to the massacre that occurred during the Indonesian occupation. The cemetery serves as a reminder of the Timorese struggle for independence and the atrocities committed against the people. This evening, gather with your group at an outdoor rooftop bar for a farewell dinner while admiring views of the city of Dili.
Day 9 Day 9: Dili
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Dili

With no activities planned for today, your Timor-Leste expedition comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

9 days tour

Timor-Leste Expedition

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Timor-Leste Expedition

Day 1: Dili

Day 2: Aileu - Hatu Bulico

Day 3: Mt Ramelau - Maubisse

Day 4: Maubisse - Dili

Day 5: Atauro Island

Day 6: Atauro Island

Day 7: Dili

Day 8: Dili

Day 9: Dili

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